LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - Paramount Players is looking to fast track "What Men Want," a remake of the Paramount comedy "What Women Want," and giving it a gender-bending twist by having this film star Empire's Taraji P. Henson as its main character.

The original pic was directed by Nancy Meyers and starred Mel Gibson as a New York ad exec who, after a freak accident, is able to read women's minds and uses the new ability to move ahead both professionally and personally.

In this version, Henson would play a female sports agent who has been constantly boxed out by her male colleagues. When she gains the power to hear men's thoughts, she is able to shift the paradigm to her advantage as she races to sign the NBA's next superstar.

Taraji P. Henson. Image: Getty

Will Packer, who previously worked with Henson on "No Good Deed," and James Lopez will produce the film, while Henson will serve as executive producer. Paramount Pictures will release the film Jan. 11, 2019.

Henson, who can currently be seen in the fourth season of Fox's hit drama series "Empire," has several films bowing in the next year including Tyler Perry's Acrimony and the Screen Gems action movie Proud Mary.

She is repped by UTA and Vincent Cirrincione Associates. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.

This article was originally published on November 14, 2017 with the title "Taraji P. Henson to star in 'What Men Want' for Paramount Players"